Negativity kills

My column in Mindanao Daily Mirror and Mindanao Daily:

NEGATIVITY KILLS

Sometimes, we feel our life is turning miserably. Our negativity doesn't allow us to keep our eyes, ears - and, most important! -  our minds, hearts and souls opened. Were reaching our breaking point.

As I said several months ago here: this breaking point can be the prelude to our strongest moment. It is when we reach our breaking point, that we discover our real strength. Allow me to ask you, my dear readers, "What happens to you or with you when you reach your breaking point?" Do you face it or do you run away?

I'll be giving you a very simple answer: If you face it - you break it. If you run away (and/or close your ears, eyes and mouth) - it surely breaks you!

Everyday - a dull reality! Many of us will answer this question with a big YES! Actually we do like to cover a newborn day already with grey veil? Each day has a new face, but sometimes we don't have the strength to watch its countenance. Of course, not every day has adventures and highlights.

But we enjoy quarreling and arguing. With other people and even with ourselves.

Contrary to what might be expected, I look back on experiences that, at the same time, seemed especially desolating and painful with a particular satisfaction. Indeed, everything I have learned, everything that has truly enhanced and enlightened my existence, has been through affliction and not through happiness. 

If it ever were to be possible to eliminate affliction from your earthly existence, the result would not be make life delectable, but to make it too banal and trivial to be endurable. 

By observation, we can feel that many of us need help to manage the everyday life. We need something that would keep us going as we journey through life. Many times we can also learn from other people and their experiences.

Blue eyed or very philosophical but so very true: If the world is to be brought to order, a nation must be first changed.  If  nation isn' t be changed, my home town is to be reordered and must be first set be right, my dear brothers and sisters. And, one step further: If my family is to be regenerated, I MYSELF MUST FIRST BE!

And here is one more thing: Affection is the humblest love - it gives itself no airs. It lives with humble and private things: soft slippers, old clothes, old jokes, and the thump of a sleepy dog's tail on the kitchen floor. The glory of affection, the disposition of mind, the good will and tender attachment, is that it can unite those who are not "made for one and another", people. Who, if not out down by fate in the same household or community, would have nothing to do with one and another.

For me life has been a thing of ups and downs in approximately equal measure. I don't have something sensational to report every day about my progress. Often, I wonder if fulfillment in life is necessarily tied to change for the better.

How to "survive"?

MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR

Sometimes, we might ask ourselves: What is the sense of doing this and that? What is the meaning of life? I am sure, each and every one of us looks for a good life.

Sometimes, we seem to remain very optimistic. We think it's easy to find always a good life. Most of the time, we are in doubt or, we even choose to be unhappy without any reason at all. To wake up in the morning with pessimism and fall asleep at night, dissatisfied and unhappy - yes, that makes life miserable.

Without happiness and satisfaction there is indeed no space for peace in our hearts and minds. Therefore there is no domestic harmony and logically, no peace on earth. The meaning of happiness is trying to manage life even with big problems, difficulties and trials. I learned this from Filipinos since staying in the Philippines as an expatriate for good in 1999.I was really surprised to experience mutual happiness, friendship, love, unity and communal spirit with relatives  in my surroundings.

Of course, I also found myself in very negative situations. I observed people, who seem to live an easy go lucky way life. But, they were like actors and actresses on stage, wearing incredible masks and pretending to be what they are not. 

Hence, in Greek, they are the so-called hypocrites. Maybe also you and me are belonging to them from time to time. Fear of rejection or displeasure of other people are becoming our daily friends. In society, it's called "good public relation". Politely greeting and smiling with a set of purpose: to win them to  their business.

William Congreve (1670-1729), English dramatist  shaped the English comedy of manners through his brilliant comic dialogue, his satirical portrayal of the war of the sexes, and his ironic scrutiny of the affectations of his age. His major plays were The Old Bachelour (1693), The Double-Dealer (1693), Love for Love (1695), and The Way of the World (1700).In his "Preface to Dryden", he wrote: No mask like open truth to cover lies as to go naked is the best disguise. 

So, what really counts for us in life? Success? Power? Strength? Money? Is it contentment? Is it peace on earth? Is it peace in our homes? Zest for life?

Let us go through life's journey: From the time, we have been babies bubbling like a brook on the first blush of spring. We hurried up, unaware of problems and troubles, being unconscious of time, as adults we worried and became conscious of money. Then, suddenly, we looked at our aces, the first wrinkles, and the baldy patch on the forehead, the first grey hair. We observed our teeth falling out and our eyeglasses got thicker and our bones crack here and there. 

We start the familiar line: "When I was young... ." And we realize our mortality. Death could knock at our door any time. We feel humbled. We have mellowed. 

Have I done no wrong? Have I been selfless or selfish? Have I been mission-oriented since then? Have I lived a life worthy in God's eyes? What really counted for me? Ano ang mahalaga? Paniniwala? Pag-asa? O kaya pagbibigayan at pagtutulungan?

Careful rumor mongers

Reprint from Mindanao Daily Mirror, published September 2-3, 2017 with friendly permission from the publisher.

EDITORIAL

Beware rumors mongers, you could now land in jail. This after President Duterte signed into law Republic Act 10951 which constitutes the amendments of the Revised  Penal Code. The law carries harsher penalties of crimes among others, treason which is now punishable by reclusion perpetua to death and a fine of at most 4 million Pesos, and spreading of false news found to endanger public order or cause damage to the interest of the State either thru publication  or utterances. The spread of fake news or unlawful utterances entails the penalty of arresto mayor (imprisonment of one month and a day to six months) and a fine of ranging from 40,000 to 200,000 Pesos. The prevalence of fake news recently in this country pushed lawmakers to declare it as criminal act.

Making fake news crime is a welcome development provided it would not be abused merely as a means for the fulfillment of certain political interests. This law also faces the danger of being abused as means to harass people out of personal grudge. Worse comes to worse, it could be used as a means to pin down political  detractors or enemies of state who are out to divulge irregularities of certain government officials or personnel. Thus, implementation of this law should be handled with extra caution to avoid thumping onto one's rights. There is a big tendency the spread of vital information against crooks in government could be easily charge to fake news, thereby curtailing one's right to freedom of speech. This is not cynicism since the above negative circumstances are big possibilities.

For all intensive purposes, fake news as a crime provides a tough lesson to rumor mongers who intend to color other people black. These people should be dealt with accordingly and be given a dose of their own medicine to let them realize how hurting it would be to be maligned in public. Meanwhile R.A. 10951 also penalizes a public officer who is guilty of revealing secrets of a private individual by arresto mayor and fine not exceeding 200,000 Pesos. This specifically pertains to a quidnunc who has the obsession of meddling into one's personal life for an ulterior motive only known to him. This law with any luck would stamp quidnuncs out.

I am in no laughing mood ...

I am in no laughing mood…

TUE, JUNE 13, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINION

A friend of mine contacted me recently. Another said, “This is hardly the time to do so.” Understandable, if I consider his very personal situation.

Anyway, it seems we have no more time and no reason for laughter if we look around. That can wait until tomorrow or better until the day after tomorrow. Anticipation is better… .

Our enemies laugh up their sleeves, and most of the time we miss to recognize the fortune still smiling at us. But hold on: he who laughs last laughs longest. Remember?

American neurologist Henri Rubenstein says, laughter lowers high blood pressure while aiding digestion and fostering sleep. Well, give me even a simple smile and believe in what  experts say: “Good humor can help the gravely or terminally ill to hear their ordeal”.

Of course, if we look around us these days, we might really don’t roar with laughter or split our sides laughing. Or even more then this! have you heard about the incident at the Danish Imperial Theatre in Copenhagen/Denmark sometime during the 1980s, when a spectator dropped dead of heart attack while watching the movie “A Fish Called Wanda” starring John Cheese of my favorite Great Britain’s Monty Python Comedy Team? Sure, a heart attack is indeed not funny, and honestly, I still love to watch this movie on VHS.

Well, even if we think we don’t have reasons to laugh, we should try to express mirth spontaneously, and we should try to be merry or gay. We still have reasons to start with the softest form of audible laughter – the vocalized smile. This is what I learned and experienced from the first moment on while travelling in Asia since 1978, and being an expat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good. Keep smiling – even you are overloaded with huge problems.

Experts also say good humor works because it helps people feel easier in mind. The French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum stressed, that, in her patients, laughter often signals the dawning of a wholesome awakening to reality. Gallow humor might be dubious in the eyes of others. But try to sing out loud, try to cry, but try to laugh!

As a devote Christian I love reading the bible. Ecclessiastes 3:1-4 say: “There is a time for everything … a time to be born and a time to die ,,, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!”

Do you trust elder people?

TUE, MAY 30, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Born in 1953, I started my life at a period when more babies have been entering the German population than never before. World War II, more or less the end of the world – as my late grandmother mostly describes that time – has ended eight years ago. It was not the end of everything. The world economic crises changed into another economical world wonder.

During the Sixties, we looked upon the youth culture of Woodstock as a symbol – of the power of music, the pursuit of self expression, the values of peace, love and community, and the rejection of “the establishment” – even in the midst of torrential rain and an aftermath of foot-deep mud.

I enjoyed our flower power peace generation with long hair. Yes, I confess, many times, I was really very cynical about my parent’s values. I really rejected anything that suggested tradition.

By the way, that’s one thing, which can be observed also in the Philippines since a couple of years. I observed such changes since my first visit in the Philippines in 1976. Nowadays, I feel happy, if my nieces and nephews start listening again my ideas and ask my advice.

The slogan “Never trust someone above 30” had to be abandoned since I crossed that divide myself. Now, hopefully at the second half of my present life,  “30” looks impossible young. And let’s be honest to ourselves: Aren’t we facing the same realities our parents did: Raising families, needs to pay for school et cetera et cetera? We have held fiercely to freethinking and the not traditional ways our parents – shaped by the “Depression”, World War II and much more – never got the luxury to feel.

Those of us who have made good money, hold fewer illusions that a big house and a Mercedes (or any other brand!) in the garage are likely to bring happiness. But guys, what seems most precious to us nowadays is not career or success, but time and the freedom to do the things we love to do that hold meaning. Earnings through a job we don’t like might be painful; but isn’t it much more painful to wait for nothing while being fed by a friend?

Failed marriages, difficult mid-life attempts, something that might pass away a family – yes, I think, we know the rarity of solid and long living relationships with a partner, with children or with a hard to find friend.

We may even dare to speak the language that 30 or 40 or even 50 years ago would have seemed uncool. Call it God or something spiritually, but it would probably be the quest for the sense of life, an the hope and faith, that one exists.

Undue care and anxiety

Undue care and anxiety

TUE, MAY 23, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Life is better than ever, so, why so many people seem to be un-happy? Whenever I hear people saying that everything is bad, I think of my late grandmother, born in 1899 (!) into a really awful world in Germany and its surroundings. The so-called “Golden Twenties” between the two World Wars have been every-thing but golden for her, my relatives and millions of people. “Lola” never complained, even during the sorrowful time in the former East Germany, the “German Democratic Republic.” Lola reached the ripe old age of almost 86.

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don’t have to do all that counting – computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn’t just knock – it jiggles the doorknob, and “your friend” – the worrier, is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, aren’t they? We have time and opportunities to do almost anything. So why haven’t we done it? We have the freedom of bondage or restraint, every one of us in his or her very special way – but, we’re still our old inferior selves.

The job is boring! I don’t find a good job! The house is an unpleasing mixture of tidy and dirty things. It’s a mess! I am not in the mood to arrange my garden. I can’t afford a gardener. That’s life. How sad! No, it’s not MY fault. Of course not!

The whole world is an awful place filled with dreadful and horrible negativism. Especially nowadays. Yes, I confess, I am also surrounded by many worriers who put their fears into me! Politicians, i.e., many times love to search for some grave alarm that will cause individuals to abandon their separate concerns and act in concert, so that politi-cians can wield the baton. Calls to fatal struggles and fights are forever be-ing surroun-ded.

The over-bearing person, who tyrannizes the weak, the person, who wants to domineer and to bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier, who might claim to be a friend. But he isn’t! Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver, and I’ll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead our woes? Wor-rying itself is pointless. Of course,  no society has achieved perfectly rules of law, never-ending educa-tion or unique responsible governments. Let’s seek out the worries but avoid the worriers, because they try to avoid liberty.

More (global) cyber attacks

WED, MAY 17, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Several weeks ago, I mentioned in this corner that the German government plans cyber attack ‘hackback’ ahead of national elections in September. Indeed, there are many cyber attack fears ahead of it. How much more now!

Latest example: several British NHS (National Health Sysyem) divisions reported problems with their computer systems on Friday afternoon local time (May 12, 2017)  –  while hospitals in London, northwest England and other parts of the country alerted patients to the temporary closures.

“We are aware of a major IT secure system attack. All IT systems have been tem-porarily shut down,” Derby-shire Community Health Services said on Twitter. NHS Merseyside in the north of England reassured its patients via Twitter that it was working to solve the problem. Sure!

The NHS later confirmed several hospitals’ computer systems had been hit by the Wanna Decryptor ransom-ware variant, but that patient data had not been accessed. “This attack was not speci-fically targeted at the NHS and is affecting organizations from across a range of sectors,” NHS Digital, a division of NHS England that handles information technology issues, said in a statement.

Ransom-ware attacks  are becoming more more frequent. British hospitals have been hit by ransom-ware attacks before, with hackers typically encrypting files and demanding a bitcoin bounty to unlock the files. The malware typically spreads through networks.

In 2016 an NHS division canceled operations and diverted major trauma cases when it was hit by a virus.

Intel Security reported in 2016 that hospitals were increasingly being targeted by ransom-ware operations, with one operator earning almost US$121 million (111 million Euro).”A combination of legacy systems with weak security, a lack of employee security awareness, a fragmented workforce, and the pressing need for immediate access to information has led the criminal underground to prey on hospitals,” the report said.

In 2016 British leaders unveiled a multibillion-pound national cybersecurity strategy that included new police units to target organized online gangs and even retaliation for major attacks.

Already 2016, hackers hold German hospital data hostage. Several hospitals in Germany have come under attack by ransom-ware, a type of virus that locks files and demands cash to free data it maliciously encrypted. Ac-cording to present know-ledge, it was an attachment in an email that allowed the virus to enter the system. It will take weeks until all systems are up and running again. First thing, one might notice the system isn’t running smoothly anymore. Error messages are popping up, and the system is suspiciously slow.

Hospitals have fallen victim to ransom-ware – a type of malware that makes data inaccessible to its rightful owner. Hackers then demand ransom payments in ex-change for a key that unlocks the files.

Ransom payments happened also in Hollywood. Blackmailing hospitals into paying ransom has also been reported in other parts of the world, most notably in the US state of California where a Hollywood hospital paid about $17,000 (15,000 EURO) in the digital currency bitcoins to hackers this month.

Import is to have regular backups.  If the virus encrypted data is being backed up, one just restore the backup files. Fact is, each one of us and our surroundings are being watched by Big Brother…. A world of glass!

Thirty pieces of silver

THU, MAY 4, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

The apostle Judas, probably also called Thaddeus or Jude, being a brother of James and Jesus, started as a fervent follower of Christ. Then, suddenly he changed. He felt that Christ didn’t  satisfy his worldly expectations. The church, like Christ, is always loved by its true followers and is always hated by its apostates.  Till today – no matter what belief you are in….

Judas didn’t leave the apostolic community to become a Pharisee or a critic  of Christ. He  leaves to become a traitor! Such a traitor will always find fault or a misinterpretation of human teaching. Judas gathered reasons that he, himself, had heard  and witnessed  to justify  his betrayal. Yes, we all also know such people who betray us and sometimes a whole nation.

A Jewish mob tried to throw Christ down a cliff, but nothing happened. Soldiers tried to arrest Him, but nothing happened. The Pharisees tried to  entrap Him to no effect. It needed a friend -maybe a good friend! – to betray Him. He escaped from all, but not from the treason of a friend. “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born!” No such sentence was hurled, for example, to Pilate or Herod.

The lesson for all of us is very clear. A bad politician or one of our neighbors can be the foulest thing on earth. A bad pagan cannot be a 1/10 corrupt.

“Do not betray another man’s confidence!” the Bible teaches us. But Judases can be found everywhere. Just as fire is not born from snow, so is the seeker after worldly honors not seeking heavenly ones. Or have you ever seen the snow catches fire?

The maladroit politician named Judas betrays his voter and elector thru beautiful soft promises while corrupting a whole nation. The neighbor, who declares how much he loves his family while going on unhindered destroying the environment is also named Judas….

Judas’ sins are really not rare. We commit it every day. Someone who have changed his ideals away from the ideals of the church and declares it to the world, anyone who leaves the church or the religious order and proclaims it to the world, “night had fallen on his soul!”

When Julius Caesar was being assassinated what hurt him was not the stabs of Caius but the presence of his friend Brutus. We might never know it, but we could be carrying on our lips the kiss of Judas or very ready to pay the thirty pieces of silver.

A burning globe

FRI, APRIL 28, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Look around. Just any place on our globe. Yes, it’s burning. Natural disasters, terrorists attacks, war. Will be Asia another one? Heaven forbid – no!

As US, Japanese and South Korean warships carried out joint exercises, Pyongyang marked a national anniversary with an artillery drill. The saber-rattling coincided with a flurry of diplomatic activity in Tokyo.

On Wednesday (April 26, while writing this piece) North Korea conducted a large-scale conventional live-fire military drill in the region of Wonsan on its east coast, South Korea’s Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed on Tuesday. In a statement, the South’s military said it was “closely monitoring” the situation and “maintaining readiness.”

Indeed, North Korea suffers a  crisis – South Korea remains relaxed! How long?

International concerns have been heightened in recent weeks that the North could soon carry out another nuclear test or missile launch, in defiance of United Nations sanctions. The reclusive country, where 40 percent of the population is undernourished according to the Global Hunger Index, often marks significant anniversaries with shows of military force. Although it was feared a nuclear test or ballistic missile launch might happen on Tuesday, no such test happened during the morning.

The harsh rhetoric continued from Pyongyang, with a top military general repeating that the North was ready to use preemptive strikes to defend itself. “The situation prevailing on the Korean Peninsula is so tense that a nuclear war may break out due to the frantic war drills of the U.S. imperialists and their vassal forces for aggression,” General Pak Yong Sik told a major meeting of senior military and civilian officials.

The North Korea to US is very clear: ‘don’t mess with us’! Meanwhile the US nuclear submarine docks in Busan.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to prevent North Korea from becoming capable of striking the US with a nuclear missile and ruled out nothing including a military strike. As a show of force, he sent the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group to waters off Korea. The fleet was carrying out drills with Japanese warships.

South Korea’s navy was also carrying out exercises with US destroyers in waters off the Korean peninsula.

As the drills continued, the US Navy said the nuclear-powered guided missile submarine USS Michigan arrived in the South Korean port of Busan on Tuesday. The submarine was not expected to participate in joint naval exercises.

Trump’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley said the US wasn’t looking for a fight with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un and wouldn’t attack “unless he gives us reason to do something.” She praised China’s increasing pressure on North Korea, seen by Washington as key to reigning in Pyongyang’s military ambitions.

Meanwhile we can observe an increased diplomatic activity. Top envoys from Japan, South Korea and the US held talks in Tokyo, with US envoy Joseph Yun saying he and his counterparts agreed to coordinate “all actions” on North Korea. They also agreed China had a key role in pressuring Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear and missile program. According to Japan’s foreign ministry, China’s envoy for North Korea was also due to visit Tokyo for talks.

In my opinion, only peace talks help. Let’s continue praying for peace. Not only in Asia.

Making the difference

SAT, APRIL 22, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. Following many people’s opinion, this world shows mostly worried characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today’s headlines and news from all around the globe.

It is a world with quickly bridged distances –  our Mother earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and with only a small budget, can travel to other faraway cultures. But joining them as well as different races and religious communities requires first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feelings, empathy, and logical ideas.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, maybe an uncommon, odd and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country, who speaks another language and whose skin is of another color. He may be a migrant, a rest-less hiker or the expatriate in our neighborhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe, that’s why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines. On the other hand – going abroad can open other and even better horizons. We must not feel as “a stranger in paradise”. By the way, I never did since touring around the globe many times.

However, a migrant bears a juxtaposition of optimism (even calculated optimism!), confused feelings, nostalgia, and home-sickness. Yes guys, during the first two years of my expat’s life in the Philippines, the round trip ticket was always in my mind, because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But, I am really a lucky guy. I experienced an amazing tolerance in the Philippines. A real practicing tolerance. Already, during my first business meetings, I met supportive, forbearing and  broad minded people. A wonderful mix of different cultures without giving up the own identity….

Every new challenge in a strange country means a change. Changes in life are necessary and important. Let’s alter or make a difference; let’s put one thing for another; let’s shift; let’s quit one state for another; let’s take fresh clothing. Let’s burn the “lock fat” away. And remember: nothing comes from anything.

Fake news

SAT, APRIL 8, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Fake news are not new but just simply to be spread via the World Wide Web and here especially social media platforms. Actually since several months, I avoid reading and especially spreading news in Facebook. Good to know that Facebook to tackle fake news with educational campaign….

Users will be directed to Facebook’s help center where they can get detailed advice. Facebook is launching an educational tool as part of measures it is taking to counter fake news.

For three days, an ad will appear at the top of users’ news feeds linking to advice on “how to spot fake news” and report it. The campaign, which will be promoted in 14 countries, is “designed to help people become more discerning readers”, the social media firm said. These countries are Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Myanmar (Burma), Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina,United States and Canada.

But experts questioned whether the measure would have any real impact. “Until Facebook stops rewarding the architects of fake news with huge traffic, this problem will just get worse,” Tom Felle, a lecturer in digital journalism at City University told the BBC. Starting Friday, April 7, 2017, users who click on Facebook’s ads will be redirected to its help center, where they will see a list of 10 tips for identifying false stories.

These include looking at an article’s URL, investigating the source of a story and thinking more critically about whether an article is a joke. It also recommends being “sceptical of headlines”, as false news stories “often have catchy headlines in all caps with exclamation points”.

Facebook’s new guide is a useful primer on the basic principles of good journalism. If all the millions who will see it popping up in their feeds read and digest it, maybe it will have an effect.

But it will only be there for three days and one has to suspect that it will be read in the main by people who are already suitably sceptical about hoaxes and propaganda. So I’m not convinced that this will be seen as a game changer in the battle to make Facebook a place you go to find the truth, rather than wallow in your friends’ prejudices.

What could be more effective is a German plan to combat hate speech and fake news that Facebook does not like one bit. German chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has just approved plans which could see social networks fined up to 50 million Euros if they fail to remove illegal con-tent within 24 hours.

However, critics also said the tool was just one part of a broader strategy, and that there was “no silver bullet”.

Indeed, in my opinion, Facebook should go further. One of the biggest problems with fake news is that the algorithms that run social media sites like Facebook and search engines such as Google are being gamed by black ops companies.

Facebook has been under pressure to combat fake news on its platform after claims it was used to sway voters during the US presidential campaign. Examples include a story that falsely claimed President Obama had banned the pledge of allegiance in US schools, and another fake news item, saying former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was part of a paedophile ring. Facebook has since taken action to improve its monitoring and reporting processes.

The point of prayer

THU, MARCH 2, 2017 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

When tragedy strikes, it’s easy to harden our hearts and cry out, “God, why did you let this happen?” Maybe then, we started praying. Before, when everything goes smooth, we would not even think a minute about praying….

“To be a Christian without prayer, “said Martin Luther, “is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be. This is the reason, why Jesus spent many hours in praying.

Unquestionable, our needs bring us to a place of prayer. Confronted with danger or tragedies, as I mentioned earlier, we look for God’s help. Difficult times always cause the hearts of men to turn to God into prayer.

Let me ask you: How long has it been since you’ve brought your burdens to God? Since you asked His forgiveness for your shortcomings?

In his very interesting book “People in Prayer”, Dr. John White reminds us that prayer is a divine-human interaction and it is always God who takes the initiative. White write: “God speaks and we respond. God is always speaking. To hear his voice is not usually a mystical experience. It consists merely of a willingness to pay heed to God who lays a claim to our lives.”

Yes, God always speaks. It is up to us whether we will listen and respond to Him. Many think we are the ones who initiate prayer. But prayers begin and end with God.

There was a time, I wasn’t in the mood to pray any more. It seemed that God didn’t listen my prayer any more. I didn’t get what I prayed for. Of course, not… ! That’s not the meaning of praying to God. All my wishes will be granted? Heaven forbid!

Sometimes, after we have prayed, God’s answers may puzzle us. But as time times go by and as events unfold we see God’s purpose in his answers. We might get a larger vision, what HE likes. Not what WE like….

Think about it for a moment” How does the idea that prayer begins and ends with God affect me now? Do I have the habit of listening to God? How do I respond to Him? How do I usually pray?

I confess that long time ago I have been trying to persuade God to change other people in my surroundings or circumstances. Nothing changed. Of course not, what a fatal attraction? I got confused because God never granted my requests. Meanwhile I got God’s answers to my prayers. Maybe very simple: I was willing to let God change me… .This is how each one of us should start. Happy endings. Because I prayed according to His will….

Nowadays, I live a wonderful life in my second and last home, the Philippines. I never regretted to move here for good. I have everything I could ask for. I can do everything I wish to do. Thank you Lord.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot. com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

European borders

WED, NOVEMBER 16, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Exactly one year ago, I started writing about this topic already in this paper. I grew up in  Germany during times of Cold War, and military check points. 25 years residing and living in the former West Berlin surrounded by the Communist German Democratic Republic (or shortly East Germany) taught me how to survive behind borders and the Berlin Wall.

Just right now, Germany allowed to extend border controls for three more months. Wow. The European Union has ruled that Germany and a handful of other states will be allowed to keep their temporary border controls for three more months. Controls were reinstated last year to stem the flow of undocumented migrants.

Along with Austria, Denmark, Sweden and non-EU Norway, Germany reimposed partial border controls last year to stem the flow of undocumented migrants travelling through Europe. All the countries are members of the free-travel Schengen area but have been allowed by the EU to introduce border checks along the migrant route as an exceptional measure.

The five countries were scheduled to lift the border checks on November 15. However, the European Council, made up of the heads of the 28 EU member states, approved the proposal put forward by the European Commission. It said the temporary checks are allowed to be extended by “at most three months.”

After mid-February, the countries should reinstate unrestricted freedom to travel as soon as possible, said Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak. Slovakia currently holds the rotating presidency in the European Council. German Justice Minister Thomas de Maizière had advocated prolonging border controls on Germany’s border to Austria. In October, he explained that controls could only be loosened when the EU’s external border had been fully secured or when the member states had sufficient resources to accommodate all refugees in Europe.

Germany was the first EU member state to reimpose border controls along its border with Austria in September 2015. Of course, not all countries welcomed the proposal. Hungary, Slovenia and Greece voted against the extension, while Bulgaria and Cyprus abstained. The Greek government argued that its own border was sufficiently controlled, making the chance of more migrants crossing Greece into EU states minimal.

Hungary warned that prolonging the internal controls could lead to a “breakdown of the Schengen system.” Rather than internal borders, Hungarian officials said the EU should focus on its external border. The Schengen area incorporates 26 countries, including non-EU members Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. People and goods can normally travel freely without border checks between states that have signed on to the agreement. Also many Filipino tourists avail a Schengen visa and enjoy travelling in Europe.

The Austria’s defense minister has said the European Union’s migrant deal with Turkey is dead. The EU must now prepare to strengthen its external borders, he added.

Under the deal, Turkey agreed to take back Syrian migrants in Greece who did not apply for or did not receive asylum in the EU in exchange for aid and the bloc taking a set amount of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey. But since the deal went into effect, migrants who previously tried to reach richer northern European states before applying for asylum have put in applications in Greece. This has slowed down deportations back to Turkey and left Greece overburdened as applications are processed. The EU, meanwhile, has been slow to develop a refugee distribution plan as countries, mainly in central and eastern Europe, refuse to accept asylum-seekers.

Political developments in Turkey have also cast the deal into doubt. Several politicians voiced out that Turkey was “on its way to becoming a dictatorship,” a reference to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s consolidation of power and targeting of the opposition. The political situation in Turkey makes implementation of another part of the migrant deal problematic. Under the agreement, Turkish citizens are to obtain visa-free travel to the bloc, but EU officials have questioned whether this will happen due to draconian anti-terror laws and the deterioration of democracy in Turkey. The security situation and instability in Turkey also casts doubt over whether it is a “safe country” to return migrants.

Absent visa-free travel, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu this week suggested his country would pull out of the deal by year’s end.

Vienna has allied itself with the Visegrad group – Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic – against the EU’s migrant policy. Earlier this year, Austria was instrumental in the closure of the Balkan route used by migrants to travel to northern Europe after it tightened its border controls and set a ceiling on asylum applications. Also earlier this week, Austria sent 60 troops to Hungary to help build infrastructure along the border with non-EU member Serbia.

Austrians head to the polls on December 4 for a rerun presidential election that pits anti-immigration and Euro-sceptic Freedom Party (FPO) candidate Norbert Hofer against the left-leaning Alexander Van der Bellen. Migration has been a centerpiece of the campaign.

Europe without borders? This is how I called and entitled several columns of mine in the past. Not only history has written its own story… !

Of deteriorating our world order

TUE, OCTOBER 18, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Writing in the German mass-market newspaper BILD, Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has said that tensions between Washington and Moscow have created a situation that is “more dangerous” than the Cold War.

“All options need to be considered” in light of recent atrocities in Syria, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman has said, when asked about the possibility of fresh sanctions against Russia. This statement is from October 7, 2016.

Steinmeier penned an opinion piece published  yesterday Saturday warning that relations between the US and Russia have reached a new low. I came across this article while waiting for my flight back to Davao from Manila.

“It’s a fallacy to think that this is like the Cold War. The current times are different and more dangerous,” Steinmeier wrote in a 214-word guest column published by BILD, Germany’s largest circulation newspaper. The Ukrainian crisis, Syrian conflict and a lapse in nuclear material cooperation between the former Cold War adversaries are listed by Germany’s top diplomat as reasons for the dangerous environment. He laid the blame mostly on Russia for “provoking” a new Cold War but, unlike the Cold War-era, in which the US and Russia had “red lines and respected them” the new multi-polar environment has more regional conflict making geopolitics “more unpredictable.”

In my opinion, there is indeed plea for stronger diplomacy. “But in spite of all the frustration, disappointment and deep distrust on both sides,” he wrote. “We must continue to search for ways to put an end to the insanity in Syria. The US and Russia must continue to talk.”

He closed by urging Moscow to put pressure on Damascus to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged city of Aleppo. “Russia can and must bring its weight to bear. And the regional players have to assert their influence on the fighters in Aleppo,” he concluded. This comes as the UN Security Council is poised to vote on two rival resolutions on Syria on Saturday, one drafted by France calling for an end to air raids on Aleppo and a second by Russia that makes no mention of a halt to aerial bombardment.

I experienced myself growing up and later residing in West-Berlin during times of the Cold War. Steinmeier’s opinion could really frighten us. But he is so damned right … !

No end in sight!

TUE, SEPTEMBER 27, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

Since Fri-day, September 23, Syria is being bombarded by air as army prepares ground invasion of Aleppo. Syria’s armed forces have called on civilians in Aleppo to flee rebel-held areas ahead of a ground offensive. The country has witnessed an escalation of violence in the wake of a nationwide “cessation of hostilities.”

The Russian-backed Syrian army launched dozens of airstrikes on September 23 on rebel-held areas of the north-western city of Aleppo in preparation for a ground offensive, state media and several news agencies reported on Friday, citing military officials.

Numerous reports emerged  from damage to emergency service facilities and underground shelters, leading many residents of the embattled city to hide in their homes, unable to flee.

In 2015, Russia launched a military campaign in Syria to bolster Assad’s rule. But the conflict is raging with no end in sight. “With respect to the air or artillery strikes, they may continue for some time depending on the field situation and the terrorists’ losses,” a Syrian military source told Reuters news agency. “Like any military operation, it starts with preparatory airstrikes and artillery, and then the ground forces work according to the results of the strikes and their impact,” the source added.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor that uses a nationwide network of informants, reported by early evening at least 40 airstrikes. The White Helmets rescue agency reported that at least 93 people had been killed during Friday’s barrage.

The Syrian army on Thursday announced “the start of its operations in the eastern districts of Aleppo,” warning civilians to stay clear of “the headquarters and positions of the armed terrorist gangs.” The regime in Damascus regularly uses the term “terrorist” to describe all those fighting against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.

The escalation of violence in Syria comes in the wake of a nationwide ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia that collapsed earlier this week. US State Secretary John Kerry called on Moscow and Damascus to halt aerial raids in a bid to salvage the “cessation of hostilities.” However, the Observatory reported apparent Russian aircraft taking part in airstrikes on Aleppo, Syria’s second city.

Syria descends into chaos. My heart is bleeding. And not only mine! What’s happening now is annihilation in every sense of the word, some-one told the international news agency Reuter. Water services have also been severed for nearly two million Syrians in Aleppo following Thursday and Friday’s attacks, reported UNICEF, the United Nations children’s agency.

More than 300,000 people in Syria have been killed and half the population displaced since government forces launched a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters calling for Assad to step down in March 2011. The international community has failed to provide a viable political solution to the more than five-year conflict, despite repeated efforts to implement nationwide ceasefires and peace talks. The same international community, which keeps on criticizing the Philippines and its president on the war on drugs and against corruption.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.german expatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogsspot.com.

Social media…

THU, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

… and the rise or  fall (?) of  global politicians!

With an increasingly globalized world social media have become an invaluable tool of the international political trade, and it will continue to evolve. Just ask our good President Rodrigo Duterte and/or Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for example.

We are living in a world where YouTube, Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter can make you a star, keep you a star or help catapult you to the highest political offices in the world. Or we see the total opposite.

It’s not just ‘entertainment-it-girls’  (or boys!) using the tools of the social media trade. Politicians and heads of government are too, and now they are reaching beyond the traditional marketing avenues to address their constituents and reach an audience that sometimes transcends their own national borders.

I came across Bhupesh Shah, a social media marketing expert and professor at Seneca College in Toronto, Canada, ranking as one of the Top 50 business professors to follow on Twitter. He says that it is helping leaders connect with their citizens in an “efficient and effective manner.” If I meet other business people and ask them about their Facebook or Twitter accounts, I mostly receive a positive smile and answer. Of course, I have!

Back to Shah, who says: “It is absolutely critical for politicians to be accessible and to disseminate their message as wide as possible. Not fully leveraging the tools available nowadays, and sticking only with traditional methods would be fatal. And this is absolutely correct!

Arguably the most successful by virtue of followers and likes are India’s Prime Minister Nerendra Modi and US President Barak Obama. Modi now has over 20 million followers on Twitter, while President Obama has over 77 million and both continue to wrack up the likes on Facebook and have taken to YouTube, whether it’s to be interviewed or to post.

Both have one thing in common when it comes to their social media presence: they get personal.

Rather than just posting canned political messages they’ve stepped out of the traditional political box, posting more intimate glimpses into their lives, like Obama exercising with the Vice Presi-dent or playing football with his dog.

“Social media gets around the so-called gatekeepers and takes the message directly to the virtual street!… You’re typically reaching the younger demographic, those that are keen to have their voices heard,” said Shah.

But social media is also a rapidly changing arena and there are pitfalls that can trip anyone up – or down! Trudeau, Modi and Obama have largely managed to avoid these, although the Canadian PM has faced criticism within Canada over his use of social media, most notably after he answered a question about quantum computing from a journalist that went viral. Some criticized him for planting the question solely for social media purposes.

“Leaders should recognize that anything they say or do can and will be used by the public (and media) for their own agenda. This means that they always have to be ‘on’ – knowing that what they say will be instantly captured and shared,” Shah explains. Correct! We just experienced this with our president Rodrigo Duterte, didn’t we?

With an increasingly globalized world social media has become an invaluable tool of the international political trade and it will continue to evolve. Modi, Obama and Trudeau are pioneers in this realm and their experiences online are shaping what’s to come both internationally and nationally for the next generation of politicians who aspire to the highest offices.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visit www.german expatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Business as usual

SAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

(With friendy permission for re-posting from the publisher Marietta F. Siognco)

EDITORIAL

The opening of the  three-day PhilConstruct Mindanao 2016 , the biggest building and construction exposition in the region yesterday at SMX Convention Center proved wrong people are terrorized by the recent deadly blast at Roxas Night Market.  Over 500 hundred exhibitors composed of locals and foreign companies and brands have booked weeks earlier before the dates of event.  Sadly, on September 2, the horrendous explosion occurred.  But the  event organizer  as well as the exhibitors were not intimidated by the incident.  They said “The show must go on.”  The event which is the biggest construction exposition in Davao Region is expected to draw about 10,000 visitors in three days.

“Up to yesterday (Thursday) everybody scrambled for booth slots.  So this indicates they were not cowed by the bombing incident,” Event Chair Engr. Ramon Allado said.  He said the event also shows life must move on after the bombing.  The Mindanao construction sector continuously holds the exposition every year in the city in the light of the booming construction industry.  With the increasing number of exhibitors and visitors, the sector is confident this would keep on next year.   Professionals from the construction industry are looking forward for the yearly PhilConstruct Mindanao expo being the venue for the discovery of updated quality construction equipment and ideas.

Local officials were very thankful the big business event pushed through despite the recent terrorist attack in the city.  They are happy about the positive outlook of the business sector to stand up and be strong against terror.  They are also thankful for their trust and confidence on the city’s security even after the blast. The huge event and more upcoming major events in the city prove false the city is not anymore livable.  Life is still here after the attack.  People must not nurture fear out of the sad incident for this would mean victory to the perpetrators.

Climate change and its turning point?

TUE, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 BY THE MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR LEAVE A COMMENT

IN MY OPINIONKlaus Doring

The United States and China have formally joined the global climate change agreement reached in Paris last year. The decisions mark a major step towards the pact’s eventual implementation. Will this be another step in the right direction of the turning point?

At a ceremony on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in China on yesterday Saturday (I am writing this piece on Sunday, September 4, 2016!), US President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered documents to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon entering their countries into the pact.

China’s National People’s Congress adopted “the proposal to review and ratify the Paris Agreement,” according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. Xi called the agreement a milestone that marked the “emergence of a global government system” for climate change.

The ceremony took place shortly after Obama arrived in Hangzhou for the annual G-20 summit. Speaking in the presence of the Chinese president and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Obama said: “Just as I believe the Paris agreement will ultimately prove to be a turning point for our planet, I believe that history will judge today’s efforts as pivotal.”

He said the United States was committed to being a global leader in the fight against climate change: “This is not a fight that any one country, no matter how powerful, can take alone.” He said of the Paris agreement: “Some day we may see this as the moment that we finally decided to save our planet.”

Honestly, it took already very very long before reaching this point.

China, the world’s most populous country, with 1.38 billion people, is the world’s largest emitter of green-house gases. The United States, with just 324 million people, is number two. The two countries account for about 20 percent and 18 percent, respectively, of global warming emissions. Check out this: Russia accounts for 7.5 percent, while India pumps out 4.1 percent.

Since it is an executive agreement, rather than a treaty, Obama can sign it without needing a vote from Congress, which would, in all likelihood, reject it. In Paris, the countries agreed to a binding global compact for each country to decide how best to slash their own greenhouse emissions with the aim of keeping global temperature increases to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) relative to the pre-industrial revolution.

And this is today’s reality:  experts have said the pace of global warming is already threatening to exceed the temperature target. The UN weather agency said 2016 is on pace to become the warmest since record-keeping began, breaking the previous record set last year. I guess, we can all feel it also here in the Philippines.

The Paris agreement set ambitious goals for capping global warming and funneling trillions of dollars to poor countries facing an onslaught of climate damage. But, how future will be looking like…?

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Email: doringklaus@ gmail.com or follow me in Facebook or Twitter or visitwww.germanexpatinthe philippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic .blogspot.com .